Sanitary paper slipper



March 17, 1942. I E. A. KR'EVIS 2,276,582

SANITARY PAPER SLIPPER Filed May 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17,1942. K V 2,276,582

SANITARY, PAPER SLIPPER Filed May 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar.17, 1942 UETE ST 4 Claims.

My invention contemplates and provides a novel sanitary paper slipperfor use in locker rooms, shower rooms, physicians offices, clubs,hotels, Pullman cars, and in the home. It is well known that the common,contagious trichophytic skin infection known as Athletes foot iscontracted most often by contact of the bare feet with the infected dampfloors of public locker rooms and showers. The infection may, however,be contracted in seemingly safe surroundings. It is therefore desirableat all times to avoid contact of the bare feet with the floor, not onlyfor ones own protection, but also to avoid transmitting the infection toothers. Inexpensive paper slippers, which may be discarded after using,are not a new article of commerce, but to the best of my knowledge noneof the slippers previously known to the art offers the advantagesinherent in my novel construction nor has combined in it the variedadvantages characteristic of the present invention. Certain problems inthis art have never successfully been met at all. For instance, it hasbeen the object of many previous patentees to provide a folding paperslipper having a tendency to cling to the foot of the wearer despite themanifold variations in the size of feet for which, nevertheless, onesize of slipper may be provided. It is well known that this desideratahas not been met, for everyone has had to contend with the annoyance oflosing the usual paper slipper while it is being worn.

A disadvantage of the paper slippers known to the art is their tendencyto absorb moisture from wet floors because the slippers have usuallybeen fabricated from porous absorbent paper. Ordinary paper slipperscannot, in fact, be worn at all under a shower, thereby creating thedanger of their users contracting infections often present in lockerrooms and like situations, because they become soggy and lose theirshape and often wash down the drain and clog up the same, so that he isforced to doff his paper slippers prior to entering the shower bath.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my invention is to provide a sanitarypaper slipper suitable for use in both wet and dry environments.

Another object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive paperslipper of substantial construction and appearance which may tastefullybe decorated by the printing of artistic design-s thereupon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sanitary paper slippercapable of being folded into a compact shape.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sanitary paper slippercapable of being folded into a shape lending itself to storing of asupply of these slippers in automatic vending machines or dispensingcases.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sanitary paper slipperpresenting no sharp edges to the foot of the wearer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sanitary paper slipperdesigned so that upon unfolding the slipper the natural tendency of thefolds to resume their previous folded condition causes the slipper tohug the foot.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent uponreading the following specification, taken in conjunction with theappended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my paper slipper;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a developed plan view of my slipper looking at the footcontacting face of the sole;

Fig. 4 is a view of the partially folded heel portion of my slipper;

Fig 5 is a view of the heel portion of my slipper showing a progressivestage of the folding operation;

Fig. 6 is a view of the toe portion of my slipper partially folded,preparatory to final assemv;

Fig. 7 is a view of the heel portion of my slipper partially folded inthe position usually assumed when the slipper is to be Worn, preparatoryto final assembly;

Fig. 8 is a view of the heel portion of the com- "pleted slipperpartially collapsed preparatory to I folding the slipper into a compactshape;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of my completed slipper folded fiat preparatory tofolding the slipper along the middle;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of my completed slipper folded into its mostcompact shape;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of my completed slipper folded into itsmost compact form; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective of my completed slipper opened and ready towear.

In all of the figures like reference numerals refer to like parts.

My novel sanitary paper slipper, whose general appearance is bestsuggested by Figs. 1, 2

and 12, may be manufactured from a single piece of strong paper, out andcreased as in Fig, 3. The slipper is preferably made of impervious,waterproofed paper, but if it is intended for use only as a loungingslipper in hotels, in sleeping .cars, or at home, the paper need not bewaterproofed, but is preferably a more decorative material, such astinted stock, whose ornamental effect may be increased by judiciousapplication of tastefully decorative colored printing.

Referring to Fig. 3, the base of my slipper comprises the relativelynarrow trapezoidal rear portion I and the broad inverted trapezoidalsole portion 3, joined to the rear portion I at downward fold 2.Throughout this specification I shall refer to folds as downward if theridge of the fold extends upward from the plane of the figure beingdescribed, and as upward if the ridge of the fold extends downward fromthe plane of the figure.

A heel tab is joined to the extreme end of the rear portion I at upwardfold 4. The outer side members 7, contiguous with the sides of rearportion I, are joined thereto at the upward folds 6. The side members Iare provided with flaps 9 and I I, joined thereto at the upward folds 8and I0, respectively. The inner side members I3 are joined to the outerside members I at upward fold I2, and bear flaps I5 and. I1 joinedthereto at upward folds I4 and I 6, respectively. The side members I andI3 also contain upward and downward folds or creases I8 and 20,respectively,.

' at the crease I2 are not readily'torn because the turned over edgeimparts great strength to the side edges of the slipper, and it presentsa rounded edge to the foot, instead of the sharp edge of a single sheetof paper.

The completed heel portion is formed by interlocking and pastingtogether tab 5 and the two double tabs consisting of tabs 9 and I5, asillustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. By the application of a waterproofadhesive to one of the tabs 9, as illustrated by the dot 33 in Fig. 3, avery strong and rigid heel portion may thus be formed. I have found itadvisable to prevent contact of the sharp edges of the inner sidemembers I3 with the inner corners of folds 6 near the heel of theslipper. Therefore, the width of the side member is preferably decreasedby indenting it as at 38 near the heel. By this expedient I preventcutting of fold B when it is already moist, by the sharp edge of sidemembers I3, which no longer touch folds 6.

The double inward creases formed by the nesting of folds 8 and I4 andthe double outward creases I8 and 20 permit the composite rear portionof the heel portion to be collapsed as illustrated in Fig. 8. When theheel is collapsed the double tab 2I fits snugly against the inner sidemember I3. Because my slippers are preferably made in only one size, thelength of the slipper is selected so that at least ninety-five percentof the adult population can wear them comfortably. To make the slipperslong enough to wear by the remaining five percent of the adultpopulation would make them difficult for the majority to wear. Peoplewith exceptionally long feet can wear the slipper as in Fig. 8, whichgives more heel room than the unfolded heel.

The sole of my slipper is provided with lateral tabs 23 joined theretoat upward folds 22, and a toe cap 25. The top cap is of relatively broadtrapezoidal shape somewhat wider than the sole portion 3. Its edges 24are designed to be pasted over the outer surfaces of flaps 23, and overflaps I1 and II. The pasted area 34 of the cap 25 has been delineated inFig. 3.

To allow the toe portion to be folded fiat, as well as to cling to thefoot of the wearer, I provide two downward creases 28 and one upwardcrease 26 along the central portion of the toe cap.

When the toe portion of the slipper is assembled, as in Fig. 6, thelower edge of flap I! is guided into the rear end of fold 22. While flapI1 is held in this position, theadhesive bearing edge 24 of toe cap 25is pasted over flaps II, I! and 23. Because flap I'! has been forcedinto alignment with fold 22, which is at an angle to fold B, a stress isset up in the material contiguous to flap II, which causes the forwardend of the fold 6 to roll over and this causes an additional fold 36(Figs. 9, 10 and 12) to be created. In Figs. 9 and 12 the original foldis noticeable as a line 6 a little above the new fold 36. As previouslymentioned, this separate fold 36 may be incorporated into the blank,Fig. 3, which creates somewhat softened corners at the widest extremityof the shoe. This reduces the likelihood of a corner of one slipperscratching the inner part of the other ankle or foot when walking.

Tab 29 located at the extremity of the toe cap 25 is folded under theend edge 30 thereof to stiffen the exposed portion of said edge and toprotect the foot against cutting by a single paper edge. The remainderof edge 30 is pasted across the width of tabs I! and I I, projectingunder the edge of the toe cap 25. A perspective of the slipper assembledas described and ready for use is shown in Fig. 12

One of the advantages of my slipper construction is the abilitycompactly to fold the slipper into a bundle suitable for storing in anddelivery from automatic dispensers. I have already described the mannerin which the heel portion of my slipper can be collapsed by themanipulation of creases 8, I4, I13 and 20. When this has been done, asshown in Fig. 8, the side members I and I3 can be collapsed against thesole of the slipper, as shown in Fig. 9. The toe cap 25 is likewisecollapsible into substantially co-planar' relationship with the sole,because the previously alluded to creases 26 and 28 take up the excessplan View of the slipper compactly folded as shown in Fig. 10 is readilyrecognized as the left portion of Fig. 9. The corresponding bottom planview of the compactly folded slipper, corresponding to the right portionof Fig. 9, is shown in Fig. 11.

Because my paper slipper preferably is constructed of waterproof paper,it may be worn in the shower without danger of disintegration, but toavoid losing the slipper from the foot after water has accumulated inthe slipper, I provide a plurality of apertures 32 at locations allowingwater readily to drain out of the slipper.

One of the important features of my invention is the method of foldingand assembling the paper slipper. This method is of great importancefrom the standpoint of both manual and machine fabrication of theslippers. To deviate therefrom results usually in ruining the slipper,

because the separate steps of folding and pasting must be performed intheir right order if the proper shape is to be imparted to the slipper.

The first step in assembling the slipper is to apply a dot of adhesive33 to tab 9 of the blank shown in Fig. 3. Inner side members l3 are thenfolded over onto outer side members 1, without however allowing tab IEto adhere to tab 9 bearing the adhesive. Center tab 5 is nextinterleaved, as in Fig. 4, with the non-adhesive bearing pair of tabs 9and I5, and these three tabs are then interleaved between the adhesivebearing set of tabs 9 and I5. To secure proper adhesion the resultingheel portion structure is collapsed and pressed into the positionillustrated in Fig. 4 until the adhesive has dried, which requires aboutone minute.

The heel portion having been formed, assembly of the toe portion of theslipper is properly begun. It is necessary that the heel portion beassembled first as it is impossible to give the proper shape to theslipper, for instance, by deviating from fold 6 to produce new fold 38as previously described, until the set of the heel portion isdetermined. To give the proper shape to the toe portion, the heelportion is first completely collapsed so that the side members lie flatagainst the sole. Tabs I! are then adjusted into fold 22 behind tabs 23,and tabs H, I! and 23 are also pressed fiat against the sole. Adhesivehaving been applied to the toe cap 25 over the area denoted 24 in Fig.3, the toe cap is applied to the assembly, flap 3| being held duringthis process to prevent expansion and to align the toe cap with theflaps to which it is to be fastened. After holding the toe cap againstthe sole and the appurtenant tabs for about one minute the adhesive hasset and the slipper has taken on its final form.

It is to be noted that the final shape of the slipper is taken on duringthe step of forming the toe portion. For this reason it is necessarythat this last step be carefully conducted so that the toe portion offold B be properly rolled over into new fold 36. That is the secret ofgetting the proper shape, and it depends upon having an accuratelyprefolded heel portion, as well as upon aligning the edges of tabs Hwith folds 22.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I donot wish to be limited thereto, but consider my invention to lie in theabstract relation of elements constituted to provide, among otherthings, a collapsible self-adjusting heel portion, double form fittingsides, and a triple reinforced expanding toe, and in the method offolding and assembling the slipper to arrive at a predetermined form byfollowing a set sequence of assembly.

I claim:

1. In a paper slipper a substantially fiat base portion forming a sole,the front of the base portion being bounded by two lines meeting at thecenter of the base with an obtuse angle between them, a toe portionformed on the forward end of said base portion and folded back alongsaid two lines at the front of the base, means connecting the sides ofthe toe portion to the sides of the base, the material at the rear ofthe toe portion when folded back being greater in width than the base,the toe portion having two folds therein extending lengthwise, the twofolds in the toe member and the angular folds between the front of thetoe member and the front of the base portion permitting the toe memberto be folded into a plane adjacent to the base portion and of a widthequal to that of the base portion.

2. In a paper slipper a base portion forming a sole, a toe portionformed on the forward end of said base portion and folded backwardlyabove said base portion, the rear of the toe portion being folded underto reenforce the rear edge of the toe portion and prevent its cuttingthe wearer's foot, a side portion formed on each side of said baseportion, means for attaching the forward ends of the side portions tothe rear of the toe portion, the upper edges of the side portions beingfolded inwardly to reenforce the side portions and to prevent the sideportions from cutting the sides of the wearers foot.

3. In a paper slipper a base portion forming a sole, a toe portionformed on the forward end of said base portion and folded backwardlyabove said base portion, the rear of the toe portion being folded underto reenforce the rear edge of the toe portion and prevent its cuttingthe wearer's foot, a side portion formed on each side of said baseportion, means for attaching the forward ends of the side portions tothe rear of the toe portion, the upper edges of the side portions beingfolded inwardly to reenforce the side portions and to prevent the sideportions from cutting the sides of the wearers foot, a heel portionformed on the rear of said base portion folded to a vertical position,means for attaching the heel portion to each of said side portions, theupper edge of the heel portion being folded inwardly to reenforce theheel portion and to. prevent cutting the wearers heel.

4. In a paper slipper a base portion having seven substantially straightextremities, the sides of the base portion comprising two pairs ofsubstantially straight folds, one on each side extending from the frontto a position substantially at the ball of a wearers foot, and one oneach side extending from said latter position to the rear of the baseportion, the front of the base portion comprising two folds at an angleto one another, the rear of the base portion comprising a single heelfold extending across the base portion, all of said folds being foldableinto planes substantially parallel with the base portion and within thewidth and length of the base portion.

EMIL A. KREVIS.

